US-Philippine military drills along South China Sea risk Beijing’s ire: ‘that’s their problem’
- Philippines and United States armed forces will hold the 2024 Balikatan joint military exercises from April 22-May 8
- This year’s edition of the annual drills will take place in areas outside Philippine territory along the outer edge of South China Sea’s waters
The April 22 to May 8 drills involve some 16,000 soldiers and showcase Manila’s new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), a strategy that aims to defend the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Army Col. Michael Logico, the Filipino spokesman for the drills, said on Wednesday that this year’s Balikatan (“shoulder to shoulder”) exercise will be focusing on territorial defence 12 nautical miles beyond the country’s shoreline.
“That means that our exercises, our defence concepts, have to go beyond 12 nautical miles in order for us to protect our national interests within our territorial waters and also within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” Logico told reporters.
“In the previous exercises, we have been focusing mostly inside military camps. However, we are already very familiar with those areas, it offers no more surprises. So the only way for us to upscale or upgrade our training is to start training in areas that we believe will provide the best benefit for our soldiers,” he added.
Asked by reporters if their drills could cause further tensions with other countries, particularly China, Logico said, “Well, that’s their problem, that’s not our problem.”